Willis enters plea for hitting woman he accused of cheating

ZANESVILLE - A Zanesville man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony stemming from an incident where he hit a woman and gave her a concussion.

Sauntai A. Willis, 32, appeared in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court and pleaded guilty to felonious assault, a second-degree felony. He faces a maximum of eight years in prison, but though a joint agreement between the defense and state a four-year sentence will be recommended.

On Nov. 25, 2017, Zanesville police officers were dispatched to a disturbance on Ridge Avenue, Assistant Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch said in court. Officers found Willis standing over a woman before attempting to flee the scene.

Willis had come home after drinking and accused the woman of cheating on him, Welch said. When she went outside to call a family member to pick her up, Willis followed her and hit her. She was treated for a concussion and had swelling on her face.